19 Must Read Books for Photographers

by Sarah Wilkerson | 26 Comments

Those who know me know that I’m a bit of a bookworm. My house is a veritable library of books, from my favorite literary works (I love Nathaniel Hawthorne) to an insane collection of children’s books to books on writing, social studies, parenting, bioethics, you name it, to – of course – an overflowing accumulation of photography books. I’m asked often for my favorites, and while “favorite” seems to change from week to week (and I’m constantly seeking out new resources; I’m probably Amazon’s favorite preorder customer), here are — in no particular order — some of the books that I always come back to …

Light: Science and Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting Learn about the importance of light size, angles, exposures in tricky situations, and the way surfaces influence reflectivity. Primarily oriented towards photographers working in a controlled setting, but nonetheless indispensable for any photographer who is serious about mastering light.

On-Camera Flash Techniques for Digital Wedding and Portrait PhotographyNeil van Niekerk is a master of on and off camera flash, and there’s no better resource for those who are shooting (or want to learn to shoot) with a speedlight. His explanations are nicely broken down and accompanied by beautiful photographic images (and settings) to illustrate the principles he covers. Pick up a notebook and pen before you sit down and start reading – you’re guaranteed to pick up a number of tips and some fantastic ah-ha moments. Also not to miss: Neil’s Off-Camera Flash Techniques for Digital Photographers. Those who work regularly with speedlights will certainly want to follow Neil’s blog (Tangents) as well.

Processing

The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 Book: The Complete Guide for PhotographersWhen it comes to Lightroom and Photoshop, Martin Evening is my go-to expert. This book covers both beginner tips and must-have tools to much more advanced and lesser-known tools and approaches that aren’t covered in most Lightroom books. It’s a necessary resource for anyone who wants to really explore the power of Lightroom (my preferred program for everyday work).

Composition and Vision

Photographic Composition: A Visual GuideA wonderful book for a quick tidbits on beginner-intermediate composition that also includes some fabulous exercises for those interested in doing a self-study course on composition or who just need a creative kick in the pants.

Within the Frame: The Journey of Photographic VisionLet me preface this by saying that anything by David DuChemin is well worth the read — his work, his words, his experience, and his knowledge will astound you. This is my favorite of his many books (and is the book which introduced me to with his work), but I also recommend checking out his blog (Pixelated Image), which is always filled with beautiful imagery and words of wisdom.

Photojournalism, Sixth Edition: The Professionals’ ApproachThis – the sixth edition of a classic text utilized in photojournalism courses across the country – is a beast of a resource and well worth its hefty weight. Whether you’re interested in lifestyle photography, street photography, every day captures of your own life and family, or more traditional photojournalism, you’ll want to pick up this incredible book by a photographer and professor whose work has appeared in Newsweek, Time, Business Week, the San Francisco Examiner, and more.

Looking at Photographs: 100 Pictures from the Collection of The Museum of Modern ArtA classic collection of images taken between 1845 and 1969 (some well-known, some less so), this book explores the vision and story behind remarkable photographs. This is a wonderful volume for those exploring deeper levels of critique and the development of personal style, as well as a good study for anyone interested in black and white work.

Inspiration

Humanity: A Celebration of Friendship, Family, Love & LaughterThis is a book that I come back to time and again when I need a reminder of the ways that an exquisite, emotionally charged image can tell a simple (or sometimes complex) story about life and human relationships. A must-have for any photographer that wishes to capture life.

InspireClickin Moms’ first photographic compilation is chock full of gorgeous imagery by many photographers whose names you’ll recognize from the CM forums. Get inspired by a variety of styles and the artistic excellence of photographers who, like you, balance their love of photography with their busy lives as mothers/wives/sisters/friends. Want more luscious inspiration from some of your favorite CMs? Look no further than the CMpro Daily Project, a group-based personal challenge in which a number of members of CMpro have joined together to sweep out creative cobwebs, gain artistic momentum, and support each other along the way.

Tao of Photography: Seeing Beyond SeeingThis book focuses on introspection and heightened awareness to bring forth your personal vision and creativity. Read just a few pages, and I guarantee that you’ll walk away feeling refreshed, inspired, and ready to shoot!

A Writer’s Book of Days: A Spirited Companion and Lively Muse for the Writing LifePerhaps an unexpected addition, writing books are always high on my list when it comes to developing a new personal project or kick-starting my creativity generally. Like written works, photography for me is about conveying a message or telling a story, so writing prompts are great artistic fodder. This book in particular focuses on daily exercises — an important approach in any discipline. Substitute “photographer” for “writer,” “shoot” for “write,” and “image” for “paragraph,” and get your creative momentum going!

Happy Reading!

Is your favorite photography book missing from this list? Tell us about it in the comments! We’re always looking for new sources of inspiration and information.

Sarah Wilkerson is the CEO of Clickin Moms and also provides mentoring services, teaches advanced CMuniversity courses on composition & creativity, and authors the “Why It Works” series in CLICK magazine. She specializes in low light photography, everyday documentary, and tilt-shift work. A former attorney and Duke graduate, Sarah resides in northern New York with her Army JAG husband, three sons, one daughter, and two dogs. Visit Sarah Wilkerson online.

26 Comments

My amazon wish list is going to grow a lot 🙂 I love, love books. This a wonderful, comprehensive list! I really enjoyed reading your synopsis on each book letting us know why they are so great! Thank you for sharing <3

Great list, indeed. Thank you! I've read a handful, but just added a bunch to my library list. I wanted to add that David DuChemin is a wonderful writer as well as photographer. Such a smoothe read. AND he's coming out with a new book in Oct. Available for Amazon pre-order! Thanks, Sarah!

MEMBERSHIP & FORUMS

CLICKIN MOMS BLOG

Clickin Moms is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.